Kefi

I followed my waiter's recommendations (and I don't think he is one of the head waiters) and couldn't have been more pleased. I wanted 3 appetizers - had the greek salad, grilled octopus and sweetbreads. Topped it off with walnut cake and ice cream. Absolutely delicious. Go! Just be sure to take cash.

Service was perfect, the food was great, and i didn't break a 50! No place on the UWS can beat this hidden jem. Look out for great wine and handsome waiters.

I have been to kefi numerous times since they opened and I only wish they were open a little later so I could have great food cheap when I get out of work in my kitchen. I live near kefi and as a Manhattan chef for the past 15 years, I appreciate the ingredients, solid cooking skills and value of what I have eaten there on many occasions. Only drawback is that your kinda eating in a basement and tables (2tops) are too close together. other than that i would get take out everyday until i got bored.

This past Saturday night, after the theatre we were looking for a restaurant . Trying to think of a (10 pm) restaurant for a quick meal wnt to Kifi. Place was 1/2 full. We ordered the bean salad, cod and meatballs. All delicious. The wait staff were great and we were out in an hour. The prices are really low. With a glass of wine the cost was $28. It would cost more in a greasey spoon.By the way the portions were fine and we did split.

Let me start by saying that as a Greek, I was both embarassed & insulted with the quality of the food - we ordered "lahanontolmades" (stuffed cabbage) & "soutzoukakia" (meatballs) as our appetizers - what we were served were both microwaved - the cabbage at best was tasteless & the meatballs were actually so poor they were inedible. As mains, we ordered the "special" of the day (which appeared before we were even finished with the appetizers) - lamb chops with spinach risotto - the lamb chops in all fairness weren't bad, but the risotto was overcooked & over salted. even the soda was flat. - add to all this the fact that you are eating in a windowless room, & all we could think was ..."please bring that check fast so we can get outa here". Very disappointed.

If the "Not up to par" reviewers weren't so retarded, they would realise that "walnut cake" on the menu is baklava. Or they could have just asked... I cannot speak to the moussaka, but everything I've ever had at Kefi was delicious and the service was always gracious and warm. It does get loud.

We are all pretty aware that the experience of going out to dinner is a gestalt experience: even the enjoyment of excellent food can be lessened if the service is poor, if the atmosphere isn't right, etc. And this, sadly, is the case for Kefi. The food that I and my dining companion ordered was both unusual and really tasty -- crispy sweetbreads in an assertive roast garlic sauce, lovely meatballs (and a generous portion for an appetizer, too), well-prepared octopus. The service was nice too. But the noise! Even seated across from one another at a (very) small table, she and I had to lean over and shout our conversation. The experience was not improved by the fact that tables are far too close together: I felt myself holding my elbows in lest one of them land in my neighbor's moussaka! The atmosphere pretty much ruined the night.